Parts underwater, well not quite yet...


A few evenings ago i felt compelled to tackle the GPU.
Most people comment in their logs that taking the graphics card(s) apart is the scariest thing they have to do, i can testify to that! Usually the GPU is the most expensive part in the build, so it makes for nervous times.

Now i've taken a few stock coolers off in my time, but none as large and heavy as this one. I'm pleased to say it went well.

Stock card


All screws taken out and cooler removed


EK full-cover block installed. Sorry i was concentrating so hard on the removal and installation of the block i forgot to take any other pics of the process. But most people are familiar with the deal, and the end pics are nice too.


Ok, as you can see, the card is still gonna take up two slots in the mobo tray thanks to the double-width PCI bracket. But i need all four available slots, so the bracket must go. But what can i replace it with...?

Koolance to the rescue!!!

Yep, that's right, koolance make a single-slot bracket for Radeon cards. It's actually for the x1900 series, but ATi haven't changed their DVI port arrangement since.

The old and new brackets


New bracket installed

Walla!

I decided to install my CPU and NB blocks while i was in the mood...







I almost couldn't get the Supreme on. With the EK backplate installed under the mobo, the screws weren't quite long enough to allow me to screw the top nuts down. However i persevered, and after much cussing and pain i got them all on:


Here's one of my favourite pics so far:


Now in my jubilation i whacked the GPU into the mobo and went to slide it into the case to take some happy snaps, and to my dismay i found this:



Yep, that's right. Your eyes do not deceive you. The GPU block is too tall to slide the mobo tray in. DAAMIT!

"oh well", i hear you say, "you'll just have to install the card once the tray is in the case." Unfortunately it's not that simple. The internal HDD cage is the same height as the offending bar, and so card won't actually ever fit int the case!

So in my desperation last night, i decided to do some Xtremely noob case modding. Hey, everyone has to start somewhere!

First to go was the HDD cage. Removing that involved drilling out the rivets that attach it to the case frame.


Then i grabbed my trusty hacksaw and attacked the frame:






Now the card will slide in nicely




Unfortunately removing part of the frame has weakened the structural integrity of the case, but i found that once the mobo tray was installed with its thumbscrews it held together nicely. It's wasn't gonna fall apart or anything, but i could tell the frame was a little weaker. I'm not really worried about it, it's not like i'll be sitting on the case anytime soon...!



Here's a few more shots of the mobo & GPU inside the case. The pictures demonstrate just how much room i have to work with.







Here's a good side-on perspective


And a few more arty shots:





That's it for tonight folks. I'm quite pleased with my progress so far, and am almost ready to install everything and plumb the tubing runs etc. Unfortunately for you guys, i'm going away with my family this next week, and so there will be no more updates until Friday at the earliest. Sorry for the delay, but one must live a family life too

Thanks once again for reading, i hope you guys are still enjoying the log.

Cheers
Tom